Xiamen 1-Day Tour · Budget 1000 RMB: From Early Morning Satay Noodles to Late Night Gulangyu Island,

Who says Xiamen is only about slow living? As a native Fujian travel blogger who grew up drinking fish ball soup in Fuzhou, worshipping Mazu in Quanzhou, and slurping marinated noodles in Zhangzhou, today I’ll teach you how to complete a high-density, flavor-packed, zero-fail Xiamen walking tour in 1 day with just 1000 RMB—no luggage dragging, no taking leave, a spontaneous weekend trip, same-day round trip without staying up late, all seafood on your plate, and all stories captured on camera!

📍Suitable for: short trips / couples’ dates / bestie escapes / family mini-vacations
💰Total budget: 1000 RMB (for two people, 500 RMB per person)

🚗Transportation｜About 300 RMB
✅ Self-driving round trip (starting from Quanzhou as an example): Quanzhou-Xiamen Expressway ≈ fuel + tolls 200 RMB
✅ Parking on Xiamen Island + ferry (citizen channel reservation is cheaper) ≈ 100 RMB
📌Tips: If you’re traveling within the province, self-driving is the best choice—ten times more flexible than high-speed rail, and you can fill the trunk with souvenirs!

🎫Tickets & Transport｜About 200 RMB
✅ [Gulangyu Island round-trip ferry ticket] Tourist route or book citizen code in advance (35 RMB/person) ≈ 70 RMB × 2 = 140 RMB
✅ [Sunlight Rock] Climb to the top for a panoramic view of the island ≈ 30 RMB × 2 = 60 RMB
📌Optional: Botanical Garden (30 RMB/person), if short on time, you can check out the free outer areas

🏨Accommodation｜0 RMB (same-day round trip, no overnight stay!)
✔️ Save the biggest expense and spend the money on food and shopping!

🍜Dining｜About 500 RMB (the highlight! This is the soul of Xiamen!)
✅ Lunch: Xiamen Eighth Market (Ba Shi) local stalls →
🔥Must-try: Satay noodles (with duck blood, pork liver), oyster omelet, tubeworm jelly (daredevils only) ≈ 220 RMB
✅ Afternoon tea: Zhongshan Road old brand →
Peanut soup + fried five-spice rolls + water chestnut cake ≈ 80 RMB
✅ Dinner: Private small restaurant in Zengcuoan alley or seafood food stall →
Ginger duck + steamed sea bass + four-fruit soup ≈ 200 RMB
📌Tips: Don’t eat inside the scenic spots! Take a detour, and the taste doubles while the price halves!

🎯Itinerary｜Complete the four key elements of “mountain, sea, city, island” in 1 day

⏰ 7:30 AM｜Departure
Drive from Quanzhou/Fuzhou/Zhangzhou straight to Xiamen Island
9:30 AM Arrive, store luggage, then head straight to [Xiamen Eighth Market] for a flavor explosion

⏰ 10:30 AM｜Island visit
Take the ferry to [Gulangyu Island], avoid peak crowds
Check in at [Sunlight Rock] for a panoramic island view + [Shuzhuang Garden] to see the sea garden
Stroll along [Longtou Road] old street, snap vintage signs, cat photos, and South Seas arcade buildings

⏰ 1:00 PM｜Artistic recharge
Relax at a café on the island (recommended: the one featured in “Turn Left, Turn Right”)
Pick up some [Huang Shengji meat jerky] as souvenirs

⏰ 2:30 PM｜Return to explore the city
Return to Xiamen main island, visit [Shapowei Art West District]
Photograph the trendy colorful houses + sheltered fishing boats
Optional visit to [Botanical Garden] rainforest mist area (feels like stepping into Avatar’s world)

⏰ 5:00 PM｜Seaside wrap-up
Drive to [Huandao Road] Coconut Wind Village or Baicheng Beach
Watch the sunset, dip your feet in the sea, rent a tandem bike for a ride

⏰ 7:00 PM｜Grand finale dinner
Zengcuoan alley or Huangcuo seafood stalls for a hearty meal to end the day
Pack a portion of four-fruit soup to drink on the way—perfect!

📌Local advice:
✔️ Book Gulangyu ferry tickets in advance via the “Xiamen Ferry Co., Ltd.” WeChat official account!
✔️ Eat tubeworm jelly with garlic—it tastes amazing and isn’t fishy; always add vinegar to satay noodles for the perfect finish!
✔️ Don’t buy “specialty products” in scenic spots; the Eighth Market and supermarkets are the real bargains!

Spend 1000 RMB and gain:
A flavorful breakfast, a Gulangyu sunset, and a promise to “escape again tomorrow.”

Xiamen isn’t big, but it’s enough to make you forget work.
After all, the happiness of Fujian people
has never been about faraway places, but that steaming bowl of satay noodles.